UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, issued a strong condemnation on Sunday against Russia’s “brazen” attack on Ukraine’s city of Odesa, which targeted several cultural sites in the port city’s World Heritage center.
In a statement released from its headquarters in Paris, UNESCO expressed deep dismay over the attack, carried out by Russian forces, and condemned it in the strongest terms. The attack struck at the heart of Odesa, a city known for its rich cultural heritage, including the World Heritage property “The Historic Centre of Odesa.”
The strike on Odesa was part of Russia’s ongoing aggression towards Ukraine and came after Moscow’s withdrawal from a grain deal that had allowed Kyiv to export its grain. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least two lives.
UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, emphasized that this act marked a significant escalation of violence against Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The destruction of cultural sites in Odesa, a city with historical and architectural significance, is a grave concern for the international community and represents a violation of the principles of cultural preservation and respect for human history.
Among the sites damaged in the attack was the Transfiguration Cathedral, a significant religious and architectural landmark. Originally constructed in 1794 during imperial Russian rule, the cathedral faced destruction during Stalin’s era in 1936. However, it was rebuilt in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The attack on Odesa’s World Heritage center highlights the importance of safeguarding cultural sites and the need for countries to respect and protect each other’s cultural heritage. UNESCO’s condemnation underscores the international community’s commitment to preserving cultural treasures for future generations and sends a clear message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated.